Thursday of the Third Week of Advent December 16, Scripture: Isaiah 54:1-10; Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; Luke 7:24-30

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1 Thursday of the Third Week of Advent December 16, 2010 Scripture: Isaiah 54:1-10; Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; Luke 7:24-30 My love shall never leave you -Isaiah 54:10 Through the years I have come to recognize the reluctance of many of us to interiorize the unconditional love God has for each one of us. We tend to pass over it lightly, assent to it, but not interiorize the implications of so great a love. And yet, the scriptures consistently invite us to union with God s self. The readings of the liturgy today continue the theme of expectancy begun last Sunday when we lit the candle of joy on our Advent wreaths. The Prophet Isaiah calls us to mindfulness of what God s tender love has done for us and prepares us for something new. The barren one (Sarah, Jerusalem, the Church) is to raise a glad cry and break into song; Israel is to forget the shame of her youthful past. The Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth, with enduring love takes pity on a people. God continually expresses the hesed found in Jeremiah 31: With age-old love I have loved you: I have kept my mercy toward you. Mourning is changed into dancing, gladness replaces sackcloth (Psalm 30). The prophecy of Isaiah calls us to joy and newness of life. Jesus speaks in praise of the Baptist among those born of women, no one is greater than John. But the earth-changing event of the Incarnation ushers in something new. Jesus says that those who receive him (Jesus) and follow him are greater than John and all who went before him. You and I are the children of that promise. Enlarge the space of your tent, says the prophet. Can we respond to that command in a way that embraces the world and its people? Take time today to sit in the mystery of the Incarnation. Allow yourself to experience delight in being so deeply loved by our all-gracious God. How can you extend that love to others today? Sister Michael Marie Hartman, IHM Baltimore, Maryland

2 Friday of the Third Week of Advent December 17, 2010 O Wisdom, O Holy Word of God! Scripture: Isaiah 45:60-8, 18, 21c-25; Luke 7:18b-23 I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides me. -Isaiah 45:5 Today s readings from the Prophet Isaiah and Evangelist Luke emphasize very strongly the existence of the one, true God. John sent two of the disciples to ask the Lord this question: Are you the one to come or should we look for another? The answer came without doubt or hesitation. Jesus replied: Tell John what you have heard and seen: - the blind regain sight - the lame walk - lepers are cleansed - the deaf hear - the dead are raised to life - the poor have good news proclaimed to them Spend some extra time today thanking God for all his gifts, especially the gift of faith. Sister Electa Schmidt, IHM Scranton, Pennsylvania

3 Saturday of the Third Week of Advent December 18, 2010 O Sacred Lord of Ancient Israel! Scripture: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 72:1, 12-13, 18-19; Matthew 1:18-24 I remember my amazement as a child seeing ordinary light become myriad colors through the magic of a prism. How exciting to learn that these beautiful colors existed in what to my eyes was invisible! Today s readings act like a prism for me as they refract some of the myriad qualities of the holy: justice, righteousness, wisdom in governing. To be holy means to act with justice and righteousness, to live in right relationship with myself, others and the world. To be holy means to govern myself with love and compassion, so that I will be loving and compassionate with those I encounter every day. Christmas is a little more than a week away. What a gift we would give to ourselves and others if we let our hearts become like a prism, letting the qualities of the holy that dwell within each of us bathe our world in light. Today, during this season of short days and long nights, thank God for the gift of light. Let it remind you of the light of holiness in you and in all creation. Sister Carrie Flood, IHM New York, New York

4 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 19, 2010 O Flower of Jesse s Stem! Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 Of all the people in the Gospel narrative, St. Joseph is among those we know least. We get to know Mary in her sweetness and trust. We see the apostles argue and doubt and even hide as their master s final hour approaches. Even Herod and Pontius Pilate are shown to act from the very human emotions of fear and ambition. Joseph, on the other hand, remains pretty much a cipher called in occasionally to do an angel s bidding or perform some other action that keeps Jesus safe. But in today s Gospel we witness one profound, and I think, defining characteristic of the man Jesus knew as his human father. We see Joseph s kindness. Matthew tells us that Mary has been found to be with child, and Joseph, her betrothed, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Unwilling to expose her to shame for a thwarted husband-to-be, that is powerful kindness. Still today in parts of the Middle East, women who shame their families by becoming sexually active outside marriage may be murdered by their own fathers or brothers. It was no less dangerous for women in the time of Jesus. But Joseph, in his disappointment, still refrained from subjecting young Mary to public opprobrium. He was a righteous man who acted completely without self-righteousness. I believe that is the deep and simple answer to why God chose him as Jesus foster-father. God was not looking for a mighty or even wise or learned man. He wanted his Son to be raised in kindness. And so Joseph the carpenter, a kind man, was chosen to sit down to supper with the young Messiah in the evenings, went to temple with him on the Sabbath, and was visited by angel messengers in his dreams. If God thinks kindness is that important in the world, shouldn t I? What kindness has been done for me in the past week? How did it connect me to God s love? How will I pass it on in the coming days before Christmas? Ellen O Brien, IHM Associate Scranton, Pennsylvania

5 Monday of the Fourth week of Advent December 20, 2010 O Key of David, O Royal Power of Israel! Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38 How many times have we asked for a beautiful day for a community, school, or family celebration? When do we seem to ask the impossible of God? How many times have these requests been granted? Through these readings today, God seems to be asking the impossible of us. How can we comprehend a virgin bearing the Son of the Most High? Even Mary questioned the angel. How can this be? Our hearts and our heads sometimes are not on the same wave-length. We stretch ourselves, especially during times of preparation for feasts and celebrations, to try to achieve the impossible. (Does anyone else have an allotted space of time to try to get twenty-five things done, and done well, in that time span?) Is God asking the impossible of us: to understand and believe that his Son will come to be among us, to be born of a woman, and to live among us? Can this be possible? Are we ready for Something Beautiful from God? Mary s Fiat is the final answer. Do we echo her fiat when we are faced with an improbable situation or a seemingly insurmountable task? The answers reside deep in our thoughts and our attitude toward life. Pray the O Antiphon for today: O Key of David, O Royal Power of Israel free the prisoners of darkness. What is possible? Sister Janet Milan, IHM Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

6 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent December 21, 2010 O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of Eternal Light, Sun of Justice! Scripture: Song of Songs 2:8-14; Psalm 3:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Luke 1:39-45 As I reflect on the readings for today, I am drawn to one central theme: For in God our hearts rejoice; in your holy name we trust. May your kindness, Lord, be upon us; we have put our hope in you. -Psalm 33:21-22 Placing all my hope in the Lord today requires letting go and trusting in the Lord s own promise to me. Sounds simple, right? Yet the world around me right now moves to an entirely different theme, spinning like a whirling dervish to sights and sounds and scents of Christmas-almost-here. We are bombarded by mall advertisements and commercial jingles for last minute shopping deals; and ah, once again, those Christmas cards have yet to be written. The challenge then is to be patient and hope-filled in these last days and not miss the whole point of Advent. This season calls us to slow down and allow our hearts to be filled with joyous hope in anticipation of the Lord s coming. Rejoice today! The Lord, our most loving Lord, will be with us! Take time today to put aside whatever task is before you and pray: Lord, I place my hope in you. Believe in the presence of the Lord within you and within those whom you meet this day. Rejoice in the present moment of this wonder-filled Advent day. Sister Joan McCusker, IHM Scranton, Pennsylvania